Going Green

My last blog post was inspired by social media comments, such as “So much for global warming”, made after a few particularly cold days in Ohio. As I mentioned previously, some of the confusion about the topic of global warming may come from the terminology we use to describe it. In my last post I explored the difference between weather and climate. Other terms that can be confusing are global warming and global climate change.

After days of extreme cold, like the ones we experienced early last week, I often notice comments on social media sites such as “So much for global warming”. These comments seem to confuse long-term, global phenomena with short-term, regional weather events. I think some of the confusion people have about this topic comes from our understanding of the different terminology used to describe specific events and phenomena. One set of terminology that can be confusing is the difference between weather and climate.

Have you ever looked out the second floor windows near Galleries 2 & 3 and wondered what was going on with all the plants on the rooftop below? If so, you were looking at COSI's Team Garden. For the past three years COSI Team Members have been able to sign up for a plot and create their very own rooftop container garden. Now that the weather has warmed up, the Team Garden is starting to take shape. It is awesome to be able to take a break from a busy day and get my hands dirty tending my vegetable plants.

This week an exciting event occurred in the Team Garden. A praying mantis egg case hatched, releasing scores of tiny mantids to patrol the plants in search for food.

With spring finally here and the weather warming up, it's time to get outside and explore the many wonders around us.

Spring also means it's time for the annual "Backyard Science Day" at COSI, and I couldn't be more excited.

The event is Saturday, April 27, and I personally encourage parents to bring their children out to COSI for a fun-filled day that includes interactive, hands-on demonstrations and take-home materials intended to help guests explore everything there is to know about their own backyards. The backyard is important in that it is where many children start to understand and connect with nature.

According to GreenWaste, the average person generates 4.5 pounds of trash per day – that's 1.5 tons per year per person. The really baffling part of that number to me is that approximately 45% of our waste generated per year could have been recycled! I know personally that the initial thought of adding extra work to my everyday life seemed daunting, but the fact is, taking an extra minute to change my original course of action makes a huge impact for us all.

I'm lucky enough to work in a place where Green Mission is ingrained in our everyday actions so carrying over good habits hasn't been all that challenging thanks to the lessons I've learned at Whole Foods Market after I decided a good starting point for myself. Below are a few of the tricks I've adopted at home and links to resources that helped me to change my behavior.